Bobbin handling apparatus

ABSTRACT

A bobbin handling apparatus in which filled bobbins are stored in a storage-conveyor bin and discharged through a chute and into a hopper. The bin continues to feed bobbins until a predetermined weight of bobbins is in the hopper whereupon a control system stops operation of the bin and concurrently closes a closure associated with the chute to prevent any bobbins subsequently passing from the bin from entering the weighing hopper. Strands of yarn extending from the bobbins are severed by a cutter mounted on the closure. As a container of an overhead conveyor passes the hopper a sliding trap door of the hopper opens thereby discharging the bobbins in the hopper into the container.

United States Patent Brouwer et al.

[54] BOBBIN HANDLING APPARATUS [72] Inventors: Charles W. Brouwer, EastGreenwich; Henry C; Bucheister, Providence; Raymond V. Tata, Warwick,all of R1.

[73] Assignee: Leesona Corporation, Warwick, RI. [22] Filed: March 19,1971 [21] Appl. No.: 126,227

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 837,050, June27,- 1969,

Pat. No. 3,593,896.

2,151,107 3/1939 Howard ..177/l20 X [151 3,700,051 1451 Oct. '24, 1972R26,22l 6/ 1967 Soojian l 77/ l 20 2,675,947 4/ 195.4 Wynn, Sr. ..222/80X 2,704,197 3/1955 Howard 177/120 707,767 8/ 1902 Ferrari ..222/80Primary Examiner-James M. Meister Attorney-Albert P. Davis and BurnettW. Norton ABSTRACT A bobbin handling apparatus in which filled bobbinsare stored in a storage-conveyor bin and discharged through a chute andinto a hopper. The bin continues to feed bobbins until a predeterminedweight of bobbins is in the hopper whereupon a control system stopsoperation of the bin and concurrently closes a closure associated withthe chute to prevent any bobbins sub sequently passing from the bin fromentering the weighing hopper. Strands of yarn extending from the bobbinsare severed by a cutter mounted on the closure. As a container of anoverhead conveyor passes the hopper a sliding trap door of the hopperopens thereby discharging the bobbins in the hopper into the container.

10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEnucm I972 sh n-1 or 2 1 G ElINVENTORS CHARLES W BROUWER HENRY C. BUCHIESTER BY R Y OND V.

T TA

FIGZ

BOBBIN HANDLING APPARATUS This is a division of application Ser No.837,050 filed June 27, 1969, now US. Pat. No. 3,593,896.

The invention pertains to bobbin handling apparatus and, moreparticularly, to such apparatus for severing strands of yarn extendingfrom bobbins and delivering a predetermined quantity of the bobbins.

In commonly assigned US. Pat. No. 3,563,479, there is disclosed a systemfor automatically handling bobbins. Bobbins to be processed are storedin a supply area such as a spinning room and successively deposited inpredetermined quantity into a hopper from which they are automaticallydelivered to a suspended conveyor container for transport to bobbinprocessing apparatus. A control system discriminates between theconveyor containers and determines whether a container is empty orcarrying bobbins and if it is carrying bobbins whether the bobbins areprocessed or are to be processed, and whether or not the hopper isprepared to deliver the bobbins to the suspended container for transportto the processing apparatus. The control system halts delivery of thebobbins to the loading hopper when a predetermined weight of bobbins isin the hopper.

As is more fully discussed in the above noted patent, various attemptsat automatically handling yarnbobbins have had little, if any,commercial success. Prior attempts have generally resulted in roughhandling of the bobbins and required some pre-orientation, such ascording of the bobbins.

As used herein the term yam means all kinds of strand material eithertextile or otherwise. The term bobbin means any core or other member onwhich yarn is or may be wound so that it may be moved from place toplace. The term filled bobbin means a bobbin having yarn thereon,whether full or partially full.

The invention, in brief, is directed to'bobbin handling apparatus inwhich stored bobbins are delivered through a chute to a hopper foreventual release from the hopper. A control system permits only apredetermined quantity of bobbins to be deposited in the hopperwhereupon delivery of stored bobbins to the hopper is stopped as aclosure associated with the chute is closed to prevent inadvertentpassage of additional bobbins into the hopper. Strands of yarn extendingfrom the bobbins are sheared therefrom-to prevent entanglement of thestrands with the apparatus and possible impediment of movement of thebobbins. In a preferred einbodiment of the invention, a cutter ismounted on the closure of the chute and proximate the path of thebobbins passing through the chute. The bobbins are deflected away fromthe cutting edges and the strands are retained proximate the cuttingedges to be sheared thereby.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a new and improvedbobbin handling apparatus.

Another object is to provide a new and improved bobbin handlingapparatus in which a desired predetermined quantity of bobbins is moreaccurately measured.

Still another object is provision of a new and improved bobbin handlingapparatus for severing strands of yarn extending from the bobbins.

A more specific object is provision of a new and improved bobbinhandling apparatus in which bobbins are fed from a storage-conveyor binand through a chute into a bobbin receiving hopper untila predeterminedquantity of bobbins is in the hopper whereupon feeding of bobbins fromthe bin is stopped and a closure as sociated with the chute preventssubsequent passage of bobbins into the hopper, and in which strands ofyarn extending from the bobbins are severed from the bobbins. A relatedobject is provision of such apparatus in which the predeterminedquantity of bobbins is determined by the weightof the bobbins inthehopper. Another related object is provision of such apparatus inwhich the cutter is mounted on the closure of the chute and proximatethepath of the bobbins'as they pass from the chute.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, schematic side view of a preferred embodimentof the invention, with parts broken away and removed for clearerillustration;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, schematic end view (from the left of FIG. 1),with parts broken away and removed for clearer illustration;

FIG. 3 Ban enlarged fragmentary view of a cutter, with parts broken awayand removed for clearer illustration;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, schematic sec- FIG. 5 is afragmentary, schematic enlarged view of another form of cutter, withparts broken away-and removed for clearer illustration;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, schematic, sectional view taken generally alongthe line 6-6 in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a diagram of a sirnplifiedicontrol circuit suitable foroperating the apparatus.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and- 20f the drawings, a supply of bobbins 10 is ina storageconveyor bin i the type fully disclosed in commonly assignedUS. Pat No. 3,538,990 to which reference may be had for a completedescription thereof. In brief, the bin 12 is here illustrated with aninclined frame 14 on which is mounted a conveyor belt 16 for conveyingthe bobbins l0 upwardly on the top run of 'the'belt '16 which forms adeep sag so that the bobbins 10 are conveyed with no relative slidingmovement between the bobbins or between the bobbins and the conveyorbelt. The belt 16 may be driven at any suitable speed and in anysuitable manner, and is commonly driven at about two to six inches perminute by means of a pneumatic motor 18 and chain drive 20 mounted onthe frame 14.

When the conveyor belt 16 is operating, a portion of the bobbins 10 aredischarged into a'chute 22 having opposed sidewalls 24 secured to theframe 14 and to a pair of brackets 26 on the frame. Between thesidewalls 24 is a declining bottom wall 28 (FIG. 1). As the bobbins 10pass through the chute 22 their path'takes them across a top edgeportion of a chute closure, here in the form of a curved pivoted door 30having opposed arms 32 embracing the sidewalls 24 of the chute 22 andpivoted thereto by suitable pins 34 (FIG. 1). The closure 30 is operatedby suitable means such as a pneumatic cylinder 36 mounted on theadjacent bracket 26 (FIG. 1) and having its piston rod 38 pivoted to anextension 40 of the left hand arm 32 of the chute door 30. Uponoperation of the cylinder 36 the door 30 is tional view taken generallyalong the line 4-4 in FIG.

pivoted downwardly from its normal closed position to an open positionfor releasing any bobbins in the chute 22 and then the bin motor 18 isstarted for passing bobbins 10 through the chute 22 and into a receivinghopper 42. To this end, the door 30 must be fully opened to engage avalve 44 (FIG. I) mounted on the frame 14, before the belt motor 18starts, as will be discussed with reference to the control circuit.

In the open position of the chute door 30 the top of a severing device,here in the form of a cutter 46 (FIG. 3), is fixedly securedalong thetop of the door 30 and is below the bottom wall 28 of the chute 22 whenthe door 30 is in its open position so that the bobbins 10 pass freelythereover and into the receiving hopper 42. Only a predeterminedquantity of bobbins 10 is permitted to enter the hopper 42 whereupon theconveyor belt 16 of the storage-conveyor bin 12 is stopped and the chutedoor 30 is closed, the door then preventing any bobbins subsequentlydropping out of the bin 12 from passing into the measured quantity ofbobbins in the hopper 42.

Cooidinated with closing of the chute door 30, the cutter 46 is operatedto cut strands 48 (FIG. 2) of yarn extending from the bobbins 10 in thehopper 42. These strands 48 may be loops or free ends, and may or maynot be entangled with other strands. Depending on particularcircumstances, the cutter 46 may be operated repeatedly while the door30 swings to its fully closed position, or it may be operated just asthe door swings into its fullyclosed position and this latter expedientis illustrated in the drawings wherein the extension 40 on the closuresleft hand arm 32, to which the piston rod 38 of the operating cylinder36 is attached, engages the actuator of a pneumatic valve 50, whichforms part of the control system to be described hereinafter, to operatea second operating cylinder 52 (FIGS, 2 and 3) mounted on the door 30,for actuating the cutter 46.

With reference to FIG. 3, the cutter 46 includes a base 54 illustratedin the form of a casting having hollows 56 in which the bodies 58 of ayarn cutting scissors 60 are fixedly secured each as by a pair of bolts62. As illustrated, each scissor 60 is generally of the type found onLeesona Corporation Loom Winder Model 790. The body 58 of each scissor60 includes a fixed cutting edge 64 and pivoted to the body a cuttingedge 66 on a movable cutting blade 68 which cooperates with the fixededge for cutting any strands 48 extending through a notch 70 betweendiverging deflectors 72 of a bobbin deflecting portion of the base 54.The pivoted blades 68 are also pivoted as at 74 to an actuating link 76slidable in the base 54. Upon operation of the pneumatic cylinder 52,its piston rod 78 moves the link 76 to pivot the movable blades 68clockwise into cutting engagement with the fixed edges 66.

The receiving hopper 42 has a front wall 80 and opposed sidewalls 82secured by suitable brackets (not shown) to the adjacent sidewalls 32 ofthe chute 22 and by brackets 84 to the brackets 26, with the hoppersidewalls 82 overlapping the chute sidewalls 32. At its lower end thehopper 42 has a curved bottom wall 86 for the passage of the bobbins 10into a container 87 of an overhead conveyor system including a containersupporting track and a driving chain. As the bobbins 10 enter thereceiving hopper 42 they drop onto a sliding bottom trap door 88 locatedat the top of the curved bottom wall 86. This door 88 has opposedflanges 90 (FIG. 4) on each of which are mounted wheels 92 which ride inopposed tracks 94 secured to the front wall 80 and the upper portion ofthe bottom wall 86 of the hopper. In order toopen the sliding door 88,it carries a depending pneumatic double acting cylinder 96 which, uponan appropriate signal, extends its piston rod to provide an abutment 98for engaging a cooperating abutment 100 on the overhead container 87,whereupon movement of the container (from right to left in FIG. 2)causes the door 88 to slide to the left thus permitting the bobbins 10to drop into the container 87 as the container passes below the bottomof the hopper 42. At the right end of the sliding door 88, as seen inFIG. 2, is a depending flange 102 which conforms generally to theconfiguration of the bottom wall 86 of the hopper 42 and prevents thebobbins 10 from falling in front of the overhead container 87 duringloading of the container. As the door 88 opens fully it actuates ahopper door open valve 104 (FIG. 2) in the control circuit and thisvalve causes the door abutment 98 to be withdrawn whereupon thecontainers abutment 100 clears the end of the abutment 98 and thecontainer continues its travel. A tension spring 106 within the outertrack 94 is secured to the right end of the track (FIG. 2) and to theaxle of the left hand wheel 92 to close the door 88. As the slidinghopper door 88 closes it engages a door shut valve 107 of the controlsystem to permit the actuating cylinder 36 of the chute door to operateand when the chute door opens it operates the chute open valve 44 topermit the bin 12 to start operation so that any bobbins 10 previouslyretained in the chute 22 are first released to the hopper 42 and bobbins10 are then fed from the bin 12 through the chute 22 and into the hopper42 until the weight requirement of the sliding door 88 is satisfied.Then the weight responsive valve 114 causes termination of operation ofthe bin 12, closure of the chute door 30, and operation of the cutter 46to cut the strands 48.

As mentioned previously, a predetermined weight of bobbins 10 isdeposited on the hoppers sliding door 88. As may best be seen in FIG. 4,an extension 108 of the outer track 94 is pivoted by a pin 110 to theright end of the track 94 and receives the associated right hand (FIGS.2 and 4) wheel 92 of the sliding door. A counter-balancing tensionspring 1 l2 resists downward movement of the extension 108 and as theweight of bobbins 10 on the sliding door 88 increases, the extension 108is depressed sufliciently to operate a control valve 114 of the controlcircuit thereby stopping operation of the bin 12 and closing the chutedoor 30.

A modified form of the cutter is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and is generallyof the shear type wherein a pair of rigid cutting members 116 and 118each have a series of cooperating cutting edges 120 and 122,respectively, forming part of fingers 124 and 126, respectively, whichprovide deflector means for the bobbins 10. One of these cutting members118 is fixed to a base 128 which is secured along the top edge of thechute door 30 as previously described, and the other cutting member 116is mounted in known manner for reciprocating movement relative to thefixed cutting member 118 with the strands 48 of yarn out between thecooperating cutting edges 120 and 122.

I To facilitate a better understanding of the operation of theapparatus, a simplified pneumatic control circuit is shown in FIG. 7 inthe condition corresponding to the hopper being full of bobbins 10 andawaiting delivery of the bobbins to an overhead container 87, as in thepreceding figures.

Prior to the'hopper 42 filling with bobbins 10, air

from a main feeder line 128 passes through a restriction 130 andprovides pilot air to a first three-way control valve 132 which is thenin a position (not shown) communicating with the main feeder line 128 toprovide pilot air through the valve 104 to a second three-way valve 134,and through a check valve 136 to a third three-way valve 138. The secondthree-way valve 134 then vents the hopper door abutment cylinder 96 andcauses its abutment piston rod 98 to be retracted. The third air pilotedthree-way valve 138 then provides supply air for operating the bin motor18 and the chute closure cylinder 36 to open the chute door 30 forpassage of bobbins 10 into the hopper 42.

When (as illustrated) the hopper 42 fills with bobbins 10 to bedelivered to an overhead container 87, the sliding door wheel 92 is onand depresses the track extension 108 so that the bobbin weightresponsive shut-off valve 114 is open to atmosphere and vents the pilotair from the first three-way valve 132 through a restriction 140 therebyoperating this valve to a venting position, as shown. This valve nowvents pilot air from the second three-way valve 134 through the hopperdoor open valve 104 to position the second three-way valve 134 as shownwith supply air passing to the hopper door abutment cylinder and causingits piston rod abutment 98 to be extended into the path of thecooperating abutment 100 on the overhead container 87. Similarly, thefirst three-way valve 132 vents pilot air through a restriction 142 fromthe third three-way valve 138 so that this valve vents the chute doorcylinder 36 to close the chute door 30, and also vents the bin motor 18momentarily until the chute closure starts to close whereupon the valve44 is operated to a venting position, for stooping the bin 12. With thechute door 30 in its closed position it actuates the valve 50 to openpositionthereby providing air from the main feeder line 128 to thecutter cylinder 52 whereupon the cutter,46 cuts any strands of yarn inthe path of its blades.

As an empty overhead container 87 is approaching the filled hopper 42,the abutment 100 on the container engages the abutment 98 on the hopperdoor 88 causing the door to slide open and the bobbins 10 to bedischarged into the container 87. When the sliding door 88 opens, thevalve 107 is actuated to a vent position (not shown) so that pilot airis vented from the first air piloted threeway valve 132 and thereforethe bin motor 18 remains stopped and the chute door 30 remains closedeven though the hopper door wheel 92 has moved off the track extension108 and the bobbin weight responsive valve 114 is closed.

When the hopper door 88 moves to its fully opened position it engagesthe door open valve 104 at the left end of the tracks 98, therebyproviding communication with the main feeder line and pilot air for thesecond three-way valve 134. This valve 134 now vents the hopper doorcylinder 98 causing its piston rod abutment 96 to be retracted andpermitting the overhead container 87 to continue on its way. As thesliding door is released by the container abutment the tension spring106 moves the door 88 back to its closed position. Upon closing of thedoor 88 the door shut valve 107 is operated to close its vent andprovide for passage of the pilot air from the first three-way valve 132to the closed bobbin weight responsive valve 114, whereupon the hopperloading cycle is repeated.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for discharging predetermined quantities of bobbins tocontinuously moving bobbin carrier means comprising, delivery means foradvancing bobbins from a supply source, receiving means for collectingthe bobbins from said delivery means, actuating means connected withsaid receiving means, said actuating means being settable in a firststate to inactivate the delivery means from advancing bobbins when apredetermined supply of bobbins is collected in the receiving means,signal means movable to a first position in response to said actuatingmeans being set in said first state, said signal means when in saidfirst position indicating that said predetermined supply of bobbins isin said receiving means, signal-receiving means connected with saidcarrier means and operable to release said predetermined supply ofbobbins from said receiving means to said carrier means when saidcarrier means is moved proximate said receiving means, and operatingmeans responsive to said carrier means moving past said receiving meansto shift said signal means to a second inactive position and set saidactuating means in a second state to reinitiate the delivery means todeliver a further predetermined supply of bobbins to said receivingmeans.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including retaining means disposedbetween said delivery means and said receiving means, said retainingmeans being operable in a first condition to retain bobbins and operablein a second condition to afford passage of bobbins to said receivingmeans.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said receiving meansincludes a portion movable in response to said supply of bobbins thereinattaininga predetermined weight.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said receiving meansincludes a slidable closure, and the signal-receiving means is operableto open the closure and release said supply of bobbins from thereceiving means to said carrier means.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including means for severingstrands of yarn extending from the bobbins moved from said deliverymeans to said collecting means.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein the severing means isinterposed in the path of movement of the bobbins from said deliverymeans to said receiving means. I v

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said severing meanscomprises a cutting portion for severing said strands and deflectingmeans for deflecting the bobbins away from said cutting portion.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 including operative means foroperating said cutting portion to sever said strands.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said operating meansoperates said cutting portion after the bobbins have been released fromsaid delivery means.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said deflecting meanscomprises a plurality of guides and said cutting portion comprises aplurality of cutters spaced between said guides.

1. Apparatus for discharging predetermined quantities of bobbins tocontinuously moving bobbin carrier means comprising, delivery means foradvancing bobbins from a supply source, receiving means for collectingthe bobbins from said delivery means, actuating means connected withsaid receiving means, said actuating means being settable in a firststate to inactivate the delivery means from advancing bobbins when apredetermined supply of bobbins is collected in the receiving means,signal means movable to a first position in response to said actuatingmeans being set in said first state, said signal means when in saidfirst position indicating that said predetermined supply of bobbins isin said receiving means, signal-receiving means connected with saidcarrier means and operable to release said predetermined supply ofbobbins from said receiving means to said carrier means when saidcarrier means is moved proximate said receiving means, and operatingmeans responsive to said carrier means moving past said receiving meansto shift said signal means to a second inactive position and set saidactuating means in a second state to reinitiate the delivery means todeliver a further predetermined supply of bobbins to said receivingmeans.
 2. Apparatus As set forth in claim 1 including retaining meansdisposed between said delivery means and said receiving means, saidretaining means being operable in a first condition to retain bobbinsand operable in a second condition to afford passage of bobbins to saidreceiving means.
 3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein saidreceiving means includes a portion movable in response to said supply ofbobbins therein attaining a predetermined weight.
 4. Apparatus as setforth in claim 1 wherein said receiving means includes a slidableclosure, and the signal-receiving means is operable to open the closureand release said supply of bobbins from the receiving means to saidcarrier means.
 5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including means forsevering strands of yarn extending from the bobbins moved from saiddelivery means to said collecting means.
 6. Apparatus as set forth inclaim 5 wherein the severing means is interposed in the path of movementof the bobbins from said delivery means to said receiving means. 7.Apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said severing means comprisesa cutting portion for severing said strands and deflecting means fordeflecting the bobbins away from said cutting portion.
 8. Apparatus asset forth in claim 7 including operative means for operating saidcutting portion to sever said strands.
 9. Apparatus as set forth inclaim 8 wherein said operating means operates said cutting portion afterthe bobbins have been released from said delivery means.
 10. Apparatusas set forth in claim 9 wherein said deflecting means comprises aplurality of guides and said cutting portion comprises a plurality ofcutters spaced between said guides.